The Mossos d'Esquadra have celebrated this Thursday the Day of the Squadrons with central events in Lleida and La Seu d'Urgell. The Director General of the Police, Josep Lluís Trapero, took advantage of the event to acknowledge the perception of citizen insecurity and commit to an increase in police presence on public roads.
Trapero admits the gap between data and social perception
The intervention of the highest police official occurred in a context marked by the debate on security after the crimes that took place last weekend in Esplugues de Llobregat and Barcelona. Trapero defended that Catalonia is a safe country and that his force is a benchmark police force at the European level, but he did not shy away from the need to work to reverse the feeling of social alarm.
The general director explicitly recognized that communication with the media must be improved. This admission comes at a time of high informational sensitivity regarding serious violence in the metropolitan area.
"We are a benchmark police force at the European level and we are a safe country. But there is a perception of insecurity and we will work to reverse it and there will be more police officers on the street" - Josep Lluís Trapero, Director General of the Police
Lleida registers an 11.6% drop in crime
In the event held in the capital of Segrià, the mayor Fèlix Larrosa highlighted the effectiveness of the coordinated strategy between the Mossos d'Esquadra and the Guardia Urbana. The city council assures that this collaboration has made it possible to significantly reduce crime rates during the first months of the year.
"We are going in the right direction, in the first quarter of the year criminal acts in the city have decreased by 11.6% thanks to police effectiveness and the coordinated strategy between Mossos and Guardia Urbana" - Fèlix Larrosa, mayor of Lleida
Josep Codina, head of the Ponent Police Region, provided concrete data on operational activity. In the last year, 3,403 arrests have been registered and a global decrease of 3.7% in criminal offenses. The fight against drug cultivation has been intense, with the dismantling of 30 marijuana plantations linked to criminal gangs and the arrest of 64 people.
The incidence of common crime has also decreased in specific areas. Robberies in l'Horta have practically disappeared after the arrest of a man charged in more than 70 cases.
The balance included a posthumous tribute to the agent shot dead by his father-in-law last October in the Cappont neighborhood. Medals were also awarded to the agents injured a year ago during an attack by a mob in the La Mariola neighborhood. In total, 269 members of the force were distinguished with commendations and 31 with medals.
In parallel, in La Seu d'Urgell another institutional event was held at the Hotel El Castell de la Ciutat. Under the presidency of Miquel Esquius, chief commissioner of the Mossos d'Esquadra, 118 commendations and 11 medals were awarded.
Road safety focused part of the analysis of the police region. Of the 2,700 traffic accidents registered, 40% were caused by animals entering the roadway.